WEB DESK: At a ceremony in the Élysée Palace, French President Emmanuel Macron honored Ali Akbar, a 73-year-old newspaper vendor originally from Pakistan, with France’s highest civilian award. Akbar was made a Knight of the National Order of Merit in recognition of his five decades of dedicated service to French public life.
Macron embraced Akbar and praised his resilience and dignity, calling him an emblem of perseverance. Reflecting on Akbar’s life, Macron admired his journey from selling newspapers in Paris for over 50 years to becoming a beloved voice of Parisian street culture.
Known for his lively calls in iconic cafés like Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots, Akbar earned the title of “the accent of the 6th arrondissement,” symbolizing local tradition. Born in Rawalpindi, he migrated from Pakistan, fleeing poverty, and arrived in France after a long journey through Afghanistan, Iran, and Greece in the 1970s.
After struggling through homelessness and hardships, Akbar found work selling satirical newspapers such as Hara-Kiri and Charlie Hebdo. His humor, grit, and adaptation to the French language made him a legend in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Despite challenges, including poverty and violence, Akbar persevered with optimism.
Even at 73, he continues his daily rounds selling papers, now selling about 30 copies a day compared to the hundreds in his prime. Living on a modest pension, he insists on working to connect with people rather than seeking fame or wealth.
Overwhelmed by emotion as he received the medal, Akbar expressed pride in becoming a knight, proclaiming his joy and determination to continue entertaining and informing on the streets of Paris. Macron hailed him as a symbol of integration and resilience, crediting such stories with enriching French identity. For Akbar, human connection remains his greatest reward.
